The deafening silence by Kilifi Governor Amason Kingi and his Mombasa counterpart Hassan Joho on whom they are likely to support as their successors in the next year General Election has set out a high intense lobbying for the seats.
A battle of titans for the gubernatorial seat in Mombasa and Kilifi is expected to bring to the fore a high fireworks mode that is expected to rattle the already known political heat in the two counties.
While Kwale Governor Mvurya has already settled on her Deputy Fatuma Achani to succeed him, Governor Joho and Governor Kingi have literally remained mum and tight lipped on their successors, a situation that has already seen many aspirants coming out to battle for the seats.
In the next year’s General Election, the eyes will not be much on Taita Taveta, Lamu and Tana River counties where the incumbents’ will be defending their seats.
However, in Mombasa, Kwale and Kilifi, the incumbents having served their second and last terms, have to move out and bring a new change of regime.
In Kilifi, those who have already announced their intentions to succeed Governor Kingi include his Deputy Eng Gideon Saburi, ASAL CAS Gideon Mung’aro, Malindi MP Aisha Jumwa, Agriculture consultant Baha Nguma, Magarini MP Michael Kingi, Kilifi County Assembly Speaker Jimmy Kahindi, Kenyan Ambassador to Tanzania Dan Kazungu and businessman Dzombo Mbaru.
In an interview with Uzalendo News, Mr Nguma who served as Chief Officer in charge of Agriculture during the first regime of Governor Kingi says he has what it takes to bring change to Kilifi County as a Governor.
The people of Kilifi a desirous of a better Kilifi. They are longing for a revolutionary and transformative leader who will put people first in both political and economic development and having worked in the first regime of devolution, I know what are the really burning issues of the residents,”Mr Baha said in an interview with Uzalendo News.
He said that Kilifi can only proper and instill hopes of its people through building a transformational foundation to enable the residents secure their future.
“My areas of focus include enhanced food and nutrition security, improved effectiveness and an efficient public service, improved health and quality of life, improved ease of doing business in the County and contributing to quality education,” he said during the interview.
Mr Mung’aro vied for the seat in the 2017 General Election and lost to Governor Amason Kingi. Although still working as a civil servant, his inner circle and some close associates have been engaged in busy campaigns in a bid to seek the seat.
Ms Jumwa, the vocal MP has of late been crisscrossing the entire county drumming support for her election as the next Governor after Amason Kingi.
“Governor Kingi, I need your vote. At least for once, support a woman leadership because women have supported you for all those years,” she said in Vipingo.
But Governor Kingi has remained tight lipped on whom he will support for the top seat.
Eng Saburi who has served as Kingi s deputy is also in the race and has upped his weekend itinerary to woe people to support his bid to succeed Governor Kingi.
Ï have worked with Governor Kingi for all those years and he knows that I can deliver. So as he goes home, I am best fit to be in his shoes,” Eng Saburi told mourners in Kaloleni.
Mr Kahindi has also started hitting the ground, meeting youths, women and men to push for his election as the next Governor after Governor Kingi.
But whereas the heat is on in Kilifi, in Mombasa, the battle has also started in eanest. Suleiman Shahbal who vied for the seat in 2017 and lost to Governor Joho is also in the race. Mvita MP Abdulswamwad Sharrif Nassir and Joho’s Deputy William Kingi are also in the race to succeed Governor Joho commonly referred to as Sultan.
Likoni MP Mishi Mboko who was also expected to vie for the seat has remained mum on whether she will give it a try or defend his MP seat.
In Kwale, Ms Chani is expected to face Lunga Lunga MP Khatib Mwashetani who has also announced that he will be going for the top seat in the next year General Election.
– By Ramadhan Kambi.
